Signal horn



Nov. 23 1926.

L.. P. KoNGsTED SIGNAL HORN Filed June 4, 1925 l 2 1 l Ill .124

dw/'7 P Kon ggg' ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNITED STATES LUDWIG P. XONGSTED, OI' SBINGFIELI), MASSACHUSETTS,ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN hosen mannaro eoaroaa'rron, or non or nw roux.

SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORA- SIGNAL HORN.

Application med .rune 4, 1925. serial No. 34,816.

In signal horns, particularly intended for automotive vehicles and thelike, 1t 1s often desirable to produce a warning signal that isstartling by reason of its lugh pitch or .5 ringing tone. This has beendone 1n some measure by means of a r1g1d disc fastened centrally of adiaphragm that 1s vibrated by an electroma et, but the mass andtherefore the mechanical inertia of the vlbratm. arts are thus increasedand also the likellood of the diaphragm to crack or break where it bendswithin its clamped perlpheral rim. Furthermore, by reason of the rlgidconnection between the diaphragm and the disc, the two vibratesynchronously at all times and thereby do not so effectively produce theovertones or thehigh pitch desirable for warning si als.

In accordance wit my invention, two or more sound waves of differentfrequencies or out of time phase with one another, one or more of thesound waves referabl hav ing overtones, are generate to ro uce a signalof ringing c aracter .capa le of extreme enetration and startllng effectover great istances. To do this, there ma be a plurality ofindependently supporte dlaphragms which have different natural er1- odsof vibration or are so located relatively that upon simultaneousvibration there is produced a resultant tone made u of fundamental notesand overtones, an also beats if desired, at least one of thesediaphragme preferably being a resilient member conslsting either of aresilient diaphragm or a r1 1d member spring-supported to mcrease t eeffect. r, any means, such as a siren mechanism or a reed, may be usedto pulsate a column of air which acts on a diaphragm, preferably aresilient member, to set 1t 1nto vibration of its own natural periodwhich may be different from the frequency of the air column. I prefer topulsate the air column by a diagram that is electromagnetically ormechanically vibrated at high frequency, and also to use anindependentlysupported resilient member whic substantially but not quitefills the diameter of the sound chamber of the first diaphragm so as toprovide a comparatively narrow annulus of open space for theuninterrupted passage ofa small section of the pulsating air columnwhile at the same time absorbing suiicient energy from that column to beeffectively set .the waves emanating from into vibration thereby. Thetwo trains of sound waves so generated are then combined inthe hornconduit or other form of sound outlet which is thus open to thediaphragm and also to the resilient member.

In the embodiment in which the independently-supported resilient membercomprises a ri id member supported by a reslilient g mem er or a springspider fastened' to the rigid member and to the casin some of the energyof vibration of the rigi member ma be transmitted to the casing itself;thereby resulting in the generation of additional sound waves in theoutsideair directly from the sides of the casing. These sound waves inthe radiate in a direction different from the mouth of the conduit andalso partially combine therewith in the production of the warning si al.

In the accompanying drawings ilustratmg my invention in application, asan ex ample, to an electromagnetic horn, Fig. A1 is a centrallongitudinal section, partly 1n elevation; Fig. 2 is a section on line2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows the-resilient member in :frontelevation.

The housingvconsists of a pressed-metal portion 1, a pressed-metalintermediate portion 2 fastened thereto and clampin the diaphragm 3 andforming the sound c amber 4, and a drawn or rolled steel sound conduit 5fastened with its neck in telescoped relation to the s out 6 of theintermediate portion. An e ectromagnet having its winding 7 around themiddle leg of the T-shaped laminations 8 and electrically connectedthrough the spring-pressed mechanical interrupter 9 to a suitable sourceof current such as a 6-volt storage battery (not shown), actuates/ alaminated armature l0 to which is rigidly fastened the diaphragm 3 andthe push rod 11. The diaphragm 3 is so tensioned as to normally hold thearmature 10 away from the poles of the electromagnet and the push rod 11away from the deflectable lever of the interrupter 9, but when anoperating switch (not shown) in the suppl circuit is closed, currentflowing through t e winding 7 causes the attraction of the armature 1()toward the poles of the electromagnet until the interrupter 9 is opened.The armature is then pulled back by the diaphragm until the interruptercloses, whereupon the action is rapidly repeated until the operatingswitch is released by the o rator.

The vi ration of the diaphragm 3 causes a pulsation of the air column inthe sound chamber 4. A large part of that air column gives up its enerin acting upon the disc 12, which vis ma e of a light rigid material asaluminum or magnesium and which is fastened centrally by the rivetedstud and nut 13 to a spring spider 14. Since this spider is riveted at15 to the liousin the disc 12 is then free to vibrate indepen ently ofthe diaphragm 3 and therefore, upon being vibrated by the air columnintercepted by it, generates sound `waves of a frequency that may bediierent from those generated by the diaphragm 3, de ding upon thenatural period of vibration of the disc 12 with its spring support 14.Owing tofthis spring mounting, overtones as well as fundamental notesare erated by the disc 12. However, the ringing character of the signalso produced is increased by reason of the fact'that the sound wavesgenerated Vby that part ofthe diaphragm 3 ogposite the free annularspace'between the ousing ortipn 2 and the rim of the disc 12 pass by t edisc and combine in the conduit 5 with the, sound waves generated by thedisc. The result is the production of a signal having fundamental tonesand overtones, and beats if desired that give a startling signal of aringing and enetrating character particularly eiective or vehicles. Itis obvious that the tone may be varied b changing the longitudinalseparation of t e disc 12 and diap ragni 3, and the diameter of the disc12, and also by culpping or otherwise changing the shape cr t e naturalperiod of vibration of the disc. 12 with its spring 14 forming theresilient member.

As a result of the connection of the spider 14 to the diaph 12 and theportion 2 forming a part o the casing, some of the energy of vibrationof the diaphragm 12 is transmitted directly to the casing which thengenerates additional sound waves that radiate from the casing in adirection diferent from that of the waves from the mouth of the conduit5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a signal horn, a plurality of vibratile diaphragms independentlysupported for vibration at individual fre uencies, means forsimultaneously vibrating said diaphragms, and a sound outlet open tosaid diaphra ms for combining the sound waves produce thereby into aresultant warning si nal.

g2. In a signal horn, a plurality of vibratile diaphragms inde endentlysupported for vibration at indivi ual frequencies having diierentnatural periods of vibration, means for simultaneously vibrating saiddiahragms, and a sound outlet open to said iaphra for combining thesound waves produce thereby into a resultant warning signal.

3. In a signal horn, a lurality of vibratile diaphragme of whic at leastone is a resilient member, said diaphragme being independently supportedfor vibration' at individual frequencies, means for simultaneouslyvibrating said da hragms, and a sound outlet open to said diaphragme forcombining the sound waves produced thereby into a resultant warningsignal.

4. 1n a signal horn, a sound chamber, a plurality of vibratile diaphra sindependently-supported in said soun chamber for vibration at individualuencies, means for simultaneously vibrating said diaphragms, and a soundoutlet open to said diaphr s for combining the ysound waves producethereby into a resultant warning signal.

5. In a signal horn, a vibratile diaphra m, means for vibrating saidvibratile 'aphragm to produce pulsations of an air column, a secondvibratile diaphragm mounted independentl of the rst for vibration at itsnatura frequenc 'and arranged to be vibrated by the p sating air columnproduced by the vibration of the rst diaphragm, and a sound outlet opento both diaphragme for `combining the sound waves produced thereby intoa resultant warnin signal.

6. In a signal horn, a diaphragm, means for vibratin said dia hragm toproduce pulsations o an air co umn, and a second diaphragm mountedindependently of the first dia hragm 'in the sound chamber thereof, t esecond diaphr substantially but not quite filling the iameter of thesound chamber.

7. In a signal horn means for pulsating an air column, an independentl-siipported member inter osed in the path o the air column so as tovibrated thereby at its natural frequency, and a sound outletopen tosaid pulsating air column and also to said member for combining soundwaves of the air column and of the member into a resultant warningsignal.

8. In a signal horn, means for pulsatin an air column, and a spring-suported rigi member interposed in the pat of the air column so as to bevibrated thereby.

9. In a signal hornz a vibratile dia phragin, means for vibrating saiddiaphragm, a sound conduit, a member located in the conduit andsupported independently of the diaphragm for vibration at its natural fruency, and a sound outlet open to the diap ra and also to said memberfor combining t e sound waves produced thereby into a resultant warningsignal.

10. In a signal horn, a sound conduit, a

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Vibratile diaphragm peripherally supported by the conduit, means forvibrating sald diaphragm, a member located in the conduit and supportedthereby, and a sound outlet in air communication with the diaphragm andalso with the member for combining the sound waves produced thereby intoa resultant warning signal.

11. In a signal horn, a, diaphragm, means for vibrating the diaphragm, asound conduit, and a spring-supported rigid member located in theconduit and supported independently of the diaphragm.

12. In a signal horn, a Vibratile diaphragm, means for vibrating saiddiaphragm, a sound chamber in front of the diaphragm, a member locatedin the sound chamber and supported independently of said diaphragm forvibration at its natural frequency, and a sound outlet open to saiddiaphragm and also to said member for combining the sound waves producedthereby into a resultant warning signal.

13. In a signal horn, a diaphragm, means for vibrating the diaphragm, asound chamber in front of the dlaphragm, a sound con- -duit leading fromthe sound chamber, and

a rigid disc spring-supported in the sound chamber independently of thediaphragm, said disc having a diameter less than that of the soundchamber but greater than that of the neck of the conduit.

14. In a signal horn, a casing, means for pulsating an air column withinthe casing, a rigid member interposed in the path of the air column soas to be vibrated thereby, and a resilient sup ort fastened to the rigidmember and to t e casing.

15. In a signal horn, a casing, a diaphragm in the casing, means forvibrating said diaphragm, a rigid disc in front of said diaphragm, and aspring spider fastened centrally of the disc and to the casing.

rIn testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

LUDWIG P. KONGSTED.

1,eos,21s

vibratile diaphragm peripherally supported by the conduit, means forvibrating said diaphragm, a` member located in the conduit and supportedthereby, and a sound outlet in air communication with the diaphragm andalso with the member for combining the sound Waves produced thereby intoa resultant Warning signal.

11. In a signal horn, a diaphragm, means for vibrating the diaphragm, asound conduit, and a spring-supported rigid member located in theconduit and supported independently of the diaphragm.

12. In a signal horn. a vibratile diaphragm, means for vibrating saiddiaphragm, a sound chamber in front of the diaphragm, a member locatedin the sound chamber and supported independently of said diaphragm forvibration at its natural frequency, and a sound outlet open to saiddiaphragm and also to said member for coinbining the sound Wavesproduced thereby into a resultant warning signal.

13. In a signal horn, a diaphragm, means for vibrating the dia hragm, asound chamber in front of the diaphragm, a sound conduit leading fromthe sound chamber, and

a rigid disc spring-supported in the sound chamber independently of thediaphragm, said disc having a diameter less than that of the soundchamber but greater than that of the neck of the conduit.

14. In a signal horn, a casing, means for pulsating an air column withinthe casing, a rigid member interposed in the path of the air column soas to be vibrated thereby, and a resilient support fastened to the rigidmember and to the casing.

15. In a signal horn, a casing, a diaphragm in the casing. means forvibrating said diaphragm, a rigid disc in front of said diaphragm, and aspring spider fastened centrally of the disc and to the casing.

rIn testimony whereof I ax my signature.

LUDWIG P. KONGSTED.

Certificate of Correction. It is hereb certiiied that in Letters PatentNo. 1,608,218, granted November 23,

1926, upon e application of Ludwig P. Kongsted, of Springfield,Massachusetts.

n 1m rovement in Si al Horns, errors appear in the printed specificationfguziring l:orrection as follgorvivs: Page 1, line 44, for the worddiagram f read da hrag'm; line 62. for the misspelled Word resiilientread remlnt; line 70, stri e out the words in the, and line 90, forT-shaped read E-sliapef; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith these corrections therein that the same ma conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Oilice.

Sign

and sealed this 28th day of December, A. D. 1926.

M. J. MOORE, Acting Oommss'ioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,608,218, grantedNovember 23, 1926, upon the application of Ludwig P. Kongsted, ofSpringfield, Massachusetts. for an improvement in Signal Horns, errorsappear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows:Page 1, line 44, for the word diagram read da hragm; line 62, for themisspelled Word resiilient read resilient; line 70, strilxe out thewords in the, and line 90, for T-shaped read E-ahaped; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame ma conform bo the record of the oase in the Patent Ove.

Sign and sealed this 28th day of December, A. D. 1926.

' M. J. MOORE,

Act'mg Uomma'sswowr of Patents.

